Katy ISD considers bond to keep up with growth

Katy ISD, which currently has 67,345 students, will likely see intensified growth north of I-10 in a way similar to the growth of its southwestern quadrant in the previous ten years, Gunnell said.

"The district will need schools both north and south of I-10 over the next ten years," he said.

On average, there will be a projected 4,000 new housing occupancies every year in the district's boundaries for the foreseeable future.

There are also more immediate concerns, including King and Wolman elementary schools, and junior high schools in the southwestern part of the district. Those schools will approach record high enrollment in the next few years.

The district's last successful bond was in 2010. It yielded no increase in property tax. All of the projects from the $459 million bond are complete, including three new elementary schools, one junior high, one high school, one replacement elementary school and numerous renovations.

The next bond was expected to have been in 2012 or 2013 but by using the 2010 bond funds, a strategy was developed to push it back and two new elementary school projects and STEM project center, slated to open this fall, were paid for, Gunnell said.

The district's last bond attempt, a $99 million package intended to provide a new stadium, agriculture center and STEM project center, failed in Nov. 2013. Based on previous demographic projects, the next bond was expected to be called in 2015.

After the work-study presentation, board members emphasized the necessity of communication and community engagement for the success of a 2014 bond after a 2013 bond failure.

"The problem with passing a bond is that it can be beaten with sound bytes but it needs a classroom explanation," Position 5 Board Member Henry Dibrell said. "We have to realize that right now there is not a taste in this country for more debt but this is not the same thing that goes on in Washington D.C. We have to take this time, not the time in November to explain that to as many members of our community as possible."

Several board members spoke to the need of encouraging the community to take ownership of what they believe needs to be done.

"We know this growth is coming," Position 6 Board Member Bryan Michalsky. "We know we're going to need facilities. Yet, what I think we're fighting against in some respects is the cul-de-sac perspective. I think our parents are generally interested and involved in their school zone but we need to educate them to the point of a broader perspective."

Several members of the board suggested that the bond's citizen committee, which was initially to include 100 members, be expanded to 200–250 members as a way of getting more members of the community involved. The citizen board is slated to deliver a recommendation to the board at some point in July.

The board's next regular meeting is Feb. 24.